Mouse-like hamsters, also called brush-tailed mice, are a group of small rodents found in Syria, Azerbaijan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. They are found in rocky outcrops and semi-mountainous areas in desert regions.
The Urar mouse-like hamster or Azerbaijani mouse-like hamster is a medium-sized mouse-like hamster from Nakhichevan, Azerbaijan and northwestern Azarbaijan Province, Iran. It is among the better studied representatives of this poorly known genus. The initial species description was based on a unique chromosome number called a karyotype. The species status has been confirmed with other chromosomal studies and morphometric studies. The species description by Vorontsov et al. and subsequent prompted elevation of several subspecies of Calomyscus bailwardi to species status.
The Zagros Mountains mouse-like hamster is a relatively little-known rodent which was the first species of mouse-like hamster to be described. The species is distributed throughout much of southern Iran, particularly in the Zagros mountains. It is also known as the Iranian mouse-like hamster, though there are several species of mouse-like hamster found in different parts of Iran.
The suborder Myomorpha contains 1,524 species of mouse-like rodents, nearly a quarter of all mammal species. Included are mice, rats, gerbils, hamsters, lemmings, and voles. They are grouped according to the structure of their jaws and molar teeth. They are characterized by their myomorphous zygomasseteric system, which means that both their medial and lateral masseter muscles are displaced forward, making them adept at gnawing. As in the hystricognathous rodents, the medial masseter muscle goes through the eye socket, a feature unique among mammals. Myomorphs are found worldwide in almost all land habitats. They are usually nocturnal seed-eaters.
The Togo mouse, also known as Büttner's African forest mouse or the groove-toothed forest mouse, is a unique muroid rodent known from only two specimens taken from near the type locality of Bismarckburg, near Yege, Togo, in 1890. Its genus is monotypic.
The steppe field mouse is a species of rodent in the family Muridae found in Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Israel, Palestine, Turkey, Jordan, Iran, Turkmenistan, Pakistan, and probably Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. The Mount Hermon field mouse and the yellow-breasted field mouse were considered conspecific with the steppe field mouse by Musser and Carleton (2005).
The Gansu hamster is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae, endemic to China. It is the only species in the genus Cansumys.
The Kam dwarf hamster is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in the mountains of western China where it inhabits grassland, shrubby marshes and steppes. Although it has a limited range, the International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
The grey dwarf hamster, grey hamster or migratory hamster is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. Its range extends from Eastern Europe through the Middle East, Russia and Central Asia to Mongolia and western China. The grey dwarf hamster has grey fur and a head-body length ranging from 85 to 120 mm. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".
The big deer mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Guatemala.
The plateau mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is found only in Mexico.
The slender harvest mouse is a species of rodent in the family Cricetidae. It is small and mouse-like and is distributed throughout a portion of Central America.
Hotson's jerboa or the Iranian jerboa, is a species of rodent in the family Dipodidae. It is found in Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan.
Hotson's mouse-like hamster also known as Hotson's calomyscus or Hotson's brush-tailed mouse is a species of rodent in the family Calomyscidae. It is endemic to southwestern Pakistan and southeastern Iran.
The Great Balkhan mouse-like hamster is a species of rodent in the family Calomyscidae. It is found in southwestern Turkmenistan, northern Iran and southern Azerbaijan. It was first discovered by the famed Soviet zoologist and ecologist, Daniil Nikolaevich Kashkarov (1878–1941) in 1925. It is named after the Great Balkhan mauntains.
Tsolov's mouse-like hamster or Syrian calomyscus is a species of rodent in the family Calomyscidae. It is endemic to Syria.
Goodwin's brush-tailed mouse, also known as Goodwin's calomyscus, is a species of mouse-like hamster. It is found in northeastern and northern Iran, western Afghanistan, and southern Turkmenistan, where it is found in rocky areas in mountains.
The Kerman brush-tailed mouse is a newly described species of mouse-like hamster native to Iran.
